Narcissism: from trait to pathology
Narcissism is a term that has a wide range of meanings, and is used in different spheres: psychoanalytic, social-cultural and as a personality trait.
In common parlance, narcissism is often synonymous with selfishness, vanity, presumption and this concept refers to the Greek myth of Narcissus, a handsome young man who refused the love of the nymph Echo and, as a divine punishment, was destined to fall in love with his own image reflected in the water.
Although most people present narcissistic traits, the so-called healthy self-love, high levels of narcissism can manifest themselves in a pathological form, called narcissistic personality disorder, due to which one tends to overestimate one's abilities and to have an excessive and continuous need for admiration and affirmation. Together with this, those who suffer from it often manifest a tendency to react to criticism by experiencing anger on the one hand and shame on the other.
This disorder has its onset by early adulthood and approximately 50-75% of individuals diagnosed with it are male.
Narcissism: the traits of the pathology
• A clear focus on oneself in interpersonal exchanges;
• Problems in maintaining satisfying relationships;
• Lack of awareness and difficulty with empathy;
• Hypersensitivity to any insult received or even just imagined;
• Vulnerability to shame rather than guilt;
• haughty body language;
• Flattery towards people who admire and strengthen them;
• Inability to see the world from the point of view of others;
• Denial of remorse and gratitude.
The narcissistic personality disorder: how to treat it
For the treatment of narcissistic personality disorder a variety of orientations are available, but there are two main psychoanalytic intervention strategies: the first is based on reality tests, on the comparison and interpretation of the grandiose pathological self and on the negative transfer. , the second, is based on empathic observations which aim to favor the correction of the structural deficits that characterize the narcissistic personality disorder.
Family and couple therapy also represent an important context within which individuals with narcissistic personality disorder have the opportunity, on the one hand, to become aware of the reactions that their way of being and behaving produces in others. , on the other hand, to develop empathic and cooperative attitudes towards significant people, so as to subsequently generalize them to habitual relationships.
On the other hand, there are no pharmacological therapies currently considered significant, unless we are faced with cases in which some form of depression or anxiety is also present.
Digital narcissism
A particular very current form of narcissism is that linked to new technologies and the web; is defined digital narcissism (or egosurfing) and is characterized by an immoderate cult of personality, of appearing and performing on the web with one's own posts, photos, videos and messages. anyone to create self-produced content, arriving at a sort of real "consumption" of their image.
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